Fisheries - Enviro Dynamics Namibia

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Impact Significance F I S H E R I E S , M A M M A L S A N D S E A B I R D S S P E C I A L I S T S T U D Y The status of the impacts and degree of confidence with respect to the assessment of the significance are stated as follows: Status of the impact: A description as to whether the impact is positive (a benefit), negative (a cost), or neutral. Degree of confidence in predictions 4 : The degree of confidence in the predictions, based on the availability of information and specialist knowledge. This had been assessed as high, medium or low. Based on the above considerations, the specialist provides an overall evaluation of the significance of the potential impact, which is described as follows: Final Report Namibian Marine Phosphate (Pty) Ltd. None Low Medium High A concern or potential impact that, upon evaluation, is found to have no significant impact at all. Any magnitude, impacts will be localised and temporary Accordingly the impact is not expected to require amendment to the project design Furthermore, the following are being considered: Page 46 Impacts of moderate magnitude locally to regionally in the short term Accordingly the impact is expected to require modification of the project design or alternative mitigation Impacts of high magnitude locally and in the long term and/or regionally and beyond Accordingly the impact could have a ‘no go’ implication for the project unless mitigation or re-design is practically achievable 1. Impacts are described both before and after the proposed mitigation and management measures have been implemented; 2. Where possible the impact evaluation takes into consideration the cumulative effects associated with this project. Cumulative impacts can result from the collective impacts of individual minor actions over a period of time and can include both direct and indirect impacts; 3. Mitigation / management actions: Where negative impacts were identified, the specialists specified practical mitigation measures (i.e. ways of avoiding or reducing negative impacts); and 4. Monitoring (forms part of mitigation): Specialists recommend monitoring requirements to assess the effectiveness of mitigation actions, indicating what actions are required, the timing and frequency thereof. From a fisheries and broad ecosystem perspective there are clearly data deficiencies suggesting that monitoring of the mining operation is required and that a baseline study could be established prior to mining. It should be noted however that Namibia already has many years of monitoring data in the proximity of the MLA (although the sampling 4 The Precautionary Approach The concept of sustainability and Precautionary Approaches underpin much of the current fisheries and environmental legislation globally. This impact assessment undertaken for the fisheries sector addresses the specific impact on the fishing industry, fish, biodiversity etc. of the mining and does not explicitly address the Precautionary Approach. The relevant government authority is the mandated institution responsible for evaluating the EIA and applying other considerations (such as political and social aspects and the precautionary approach).
F I S H E R I E S , M A M M A L S A N D S E A B I R D S S P E C I A L I S T S T U D Y stations may not coincide with the exact location of the area to be mined). Adaptation of current monitoring as well as extrapolation of current knowledge to the MLA is a prerequisite to use the best available information to understand the potential impacts prior to mining 6.2 ZONES USED IN THE ASSESSMENT OF FISHERIES IMPACTS Due to the nature of the fisheries and fisheries data this assessment used distinct Zones to assess impacts. It should be pointed out that this assessment determined that the impact of dredging can be either A) Direct – that is the physical impact of the dredging operation, or B) Indirect – that is the mining will have an indirect effect on the areas adjacent to the actual area being mined. In this regard we assume that a fishery will be affected differently and to a lesser degree the further away fishing takes place from the actual mined area (i.e. SP- 1, SP-2 and SP-3) We stress also that the areas or zones selected are only a mechanism by which we could gauge possible effects. For example although substrate is removed in the mined area (SP-1 to 3) the fisheries in the adjacent areas to SP-1 to 3 are also likely to be affected – we use the term “Mining Licence Area”, or MLA. Thereafter we zoned areas (Zone 1-4) at different intervals as follows: Zone 1. The area extending from the margins of the MLA to approximately 25 km seawards in all directions; Zone 2. The area extending from Zone 1 seawards in all directions to 50km; Zone 3. The area extending from Zone 2 seawards in all directions to 100 km; Zone 4. The area extending from Zone 3 seawards in all directions to the Namibian EEZ. These areas and zones are illustrated in Figure 18. NOTE also that the areas beyond Zone 1 are probably of little overall significance. The area of greatest potential impact and risk to both the fisheries and the resources are most likely to occur within the MLA and outwards to the 25 km (Zone 1 outer margin) i.e. a consolidation of the MLA and Zone 1. We classify this as the “Mine Site” The rationale for this is as follows: Data supplied by MFMR (NatMIRC) had limitations – only single daily locations were provided for most fishing sectors. In lieu of having vessel track data or start and end points of actual fishing events we must assume that on average a tow distance or line set (longline) will approximate 25 km (for trawling 3 hour trawl at 3.5 knots approximating no more than 25 km) from the border of the MLA. A more concise spatial assessment was not possible (data requested). In a further analysis we used a modified methodology to estimate the levels of historical activity in and around each SP-1, SP-2 and SP-3 area in order to consolidate the expected levels of marine traffic in these areas. Final Report Namibian Marine Phosphate (Pty) Ltd. Page 47
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Page 7 and 8: F I S H E R I E S , M A M M A L S A
Page 11 and 12: Tables and Figures F I S H E R I E
Page 13 and 14: 1 INTRODUCTION F I S H E R I E S ,
Page 37 and 38: 4.2 TURTLES F I S H E R I E S , M A
Page 45 and 46: 5 LEGISLATION F I S H E R I E S , M
Page 47: Extent Duration Intensity/ Magnitud
Page 81 and 82: 10 CONCLUSIONS F I S H E R I E S ,
Page 85 and 86: 12 REFERENCES F I S H E R I E S , M
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Fisheries - Enviro Dynamics Namibia

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